🚨 2021 Lotus Exige: Emergency Neutral
The 2021 Lotus Exige (final production year) uses a traditional floor-mounted manual transmission shifter with a mechanical cable linkage.
🧰 Drafted with AI under the editorial review of Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — cross-check against your owner’s manual when possible.
⚠️ Chock the wheels first — neutral means the car can roll. Set the parking brake while you work, never stand downhill of the vehicle, and try a 12-volt jump before any override: power fixes most stuck-in-park problems instantly.
The procedure
- Ensure the parking brake is firmly engaged and the vehicle is on level ground
- Press the clutch pedal fully to the floor (no electrical power required for clutch operation)
- Move the shifter to neutral position (center position, no gear engaged)
- Release the clutch pedal while keeping the shifter in neutral
- Verify neutral by attempting to rock the vehicle slightly or confirming the shifter moves freely side-to-side
- The vehicle can now be pushed or rolled onto a flatbed
With zero electrical power
Manual transmission Exiges require no electrical power to shift into neutral. The clutch is cable-operated (not hydraulic) and functions without power. Simply press the clutch and move the shifter to the center neutral position.